Why blood donors are in demand
Meet our team.
Lauren Young
DVMDr. Lauren Young’s clinical interests include wound management, pain management and fostering the human-animal bond.
She believes Blood Bank services are essential for the community and provide a balance of science and problem solving to improve pets’ health.
- Internship, Large Animal Medicine & Surgery, Oakridge Equine Hospital, Edmond, OK
- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge
- Bachelor of Science, Biology, Bridgewater College, VA
In her free time, Dr. Young enjoys hiking, visiting historic locations and spending time on the farm with her horses.
Shannon Scheitle
LVTShannon Scheitle thinks Blood Bank is a fun part of the hospital, especially because she gets to work with happy, healthy pets whose families have provided them with exceptional care. Many of the donors are purebred dogs not typically seen in the hospital – like Irish wolfhounds or borzois – and Shannon finds it fascinating to figure out how to work with them. Patients who receive donated blood are often anemic due to fleas or gastrointestinal parasites and providing them with healthy blood helps restore them to their normal, thriving selves.
Blood Bank is a complex field, and Shannon is always learning about new products and finding ways to expand the service and make the most out of every donation.
Shannon and her husband share a son, two blood donor dogs (Grayson and Titan), and a cat named Thumper. A certified homebody, she loves to cross-stitch, read and rewatch Gilmore Girls over and over. She also loves horses and works at an equine hospital one day a week.
Melanie Doyle
LVTMelanie Doyle was drawn to the Blood Bank while working in the internal medicine department, where she provided blood transfusions and cared for pets with chronic anemia. Her love of phlebotomy has fueled her continued interest in the entire process.
Melanie and her husband share a son, a daughter, two dogs (a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog and a pit bull) and two cats. She loves Friends, baking and roller skating.
What can I expect?
Eligibility
- If your pet meets all eligibility criteria, complete the online registration, which inclues a medical history questionnaire.
- If all requirements are met, a member of the blood bank team will contact you to review your pet’s information, explain the blood donation process, answer questions, and schedule a pre-screening appointment.
Pre-screening appointment
- During this complimentary appointment, a member of the blood bank team will explain the process in detail and answer any questions you may have.
- An exam and behavioral assessment will be performed by a licensed veterinarian to ensure your pet is healthy and has a friendly, calm disposition.
- A blood sample will be drawn for initial pre-screening lab work to complete your pet's full health check, obtain their blood type, and to screen for any infectious diseases.
Results
- A member of the blood bank team will contact you with the lab work results. If all results are within the expected range, your pet will be officially enrolled in the program and we'll schedule their first donation appointment.
- When you arrive at the hospital, our team will meet with you to review any changes in your pet’s medical history and answer any questions. Most owners choose to drop off their pet for the day, but you're welcome to stay for the donation. The donation itself takes about 10 minutes, though the entire process lasts approximately an hour.
- A pre-donation health check will be performed, which includes a complete physical exam by a licensed veterinarian and a blood test to assess Packed Cell Volume (PCV) or hemoglobin. This will determine if your pet is clear to donate.
- With your consent, a small amount of sedative may be given to your pet to help them relax, if needed.
- While your pet is comfortably situated on a table, a small area of fur on their neck will be removed and the skin at the collection site will be cleaned.
- Blood is collected from the jugular vein, with the donation process lasting approximately 10 minutes. For canines, the standard collection volume ranges from 300ml to 450ml, depending on their weight. For felines, the standard volume is 53ml.
- Your pet is closely monitored with tenderness throughout the entire donation process by our loving team.
- After the donation, a bandage is placed over the collection site and your pet's vitals are taken.
- Your pet will receive plenty of TLC from our team as well as treats for their hard work!
- We recommended that your pet rest for the remainder of the day before returning to their normal routine the following day. For dogs, a harness should be used afterward.
- If you choose to receive notifications, you will receive an email alert when your pet’s blood is used to save or improve another pet’s life. You may receive multiple emails, as each donation can produce up to three blood products!
